Approximate greatest extent of the Sunga empire (185 BCE-73 BCE)

The Sunga empire (or Shunga empire) controlled the eastern part of India from around 185 to 73 BCE. It was established after the fall of the Indian Mauryan empire. The capital of the Sungas was at Pataliputra.

Overthrow of the Mauryan dynasty (185 BCE)

The Sunga dynasty was established in 185 BCE, about 50 years after Ashoka's death, when the king Brhadrata, the last of the Mauryan rulers, was brutally murdered by the then commander-in-chief of the Mauryan armed forces, Pusyamitra Sunga, while he was taking the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pusyamitra Sunga then ascended the throne.

Persecution of Buddhism

Pusyamitra Sunga, a Brahmin, is known for his hostility and persecution towards the Buddhist faith. He is recorded as having "destroyed monasteries and killed Monks" (Divyavadana, p429-434): 84.000 Buddhist stupas which had been built by the Mauryan king Ashoka were destroyed (R. Thaper), and 100 gold coins were offered for the head of each Buddhist monk (Indian Historical Quarterly Vol. XXII, p.81 ff cited in Hars.407). A large number of Buddhist monasteries (viharas) were converted to Hindu temples, in such places as Nalanda, Bodhgaya, Sarnath or Mathura.

Plaque of the Mother Goddess Durga, wife of the God of Cyclic Destruction Shiva, Sunga period, 1st century BCE, West Bengal, India

Conflict with the Indo-Greeks (180 BCE- )

From around 180 BCE the Indian territory was invaded as far as Pataliputra by the Greco-Bactrian ruler Demetrius, with the long-term effect of confining the Sungas to the eastern part of India. Demetrius established an Indo-Greek kingdom in the northern and northwestern part of India, which was to last until the end of the 1st century BCE, and under which Buddhism was able to flourish. In particular, one of the successors of Demetrius, the Indo-Greek "Saviour king" Menander (Pali: Milinda) was a strong benefactor of the Buddhist faith at that time.

Later Sunga realizations

During the historical Sunga period (185 to 73 BCE), Buddhist activity also managed to survive somewhat in central India (Madhya Pradesh) as suggested by some architectural expansions that were done at the stupas of Sanchi and Bharhut, originally started under King Ashoka. These stupas, however, are located quite far from the Sunga center of power, and it is questioned whether these works were due to the weakness of the control of the Sungas in these areas, or a late sign of tolerance on their part.

The last of the Sunga kings was Devabhuti.

MIDDLE KINGDOMS OF INDIA
Timeline:	Northern empires	Southern Kingdoms	Foreign kingdoms
6th century BCE 5th century BCE 4th century BCE 3rd century BCE 2nd century BCE 1st century BCE 1st century CE 2nd century CE 3rd century CE 4th century CE 5th century CE	Magadha empire Nanda empire Mauryan empire Satavahana empire Sunga empire Gupta empire	Pandya Kalinga Chera Chola	(Persian rule) (Greek conquests) Indo-Greek kingdom Indo-Scythians Kushan empire Indo-Parthian kingdom Western Kshatrapas Hephthalites

See also:

History of Buddhism
History of India
Greco-Buddhism

References:

• "Dictionary of Buddhism" by Damien KEOWN (Oxford University Press, 2003) [ISBN 0198605609]
  
• "Ashoka and the decline of the Mauryas" Romila Thaper (London 1961).